Life after Halton

by Ned Kelly (Arm.)

Perhaps leaving Wendover railway station the day after our Graduation was a sad moment. Saying goodbyes to all our ladies, but the effect of alcohol from the night previous eased the pain. Home leave, then off to RAF Aldergrove.

My first feeling of alarm as I sat in the NAAFI and a Corporal sat nearby with a crate of Guinness, and this was lunchtime, but this was Ulster.

Working on Mk 3 Shacks was a pleasure. 120 Sqdn. Bombing and arming up terrific. Visits to Belfast and dances. Every other dance was a "ladies excuse me". So no shortage of females.

There were no problems at that time with being in the service, but there still was heavy security presence.

Alas, RAF Aldergrove was closing and off I departed to RAF Ballykelly. 210 Sqdn I recall. Working now on the Mk1 and 2 Shacks was to me a bit of a comedown. No luxury in those as the Mk 3. I had been to RAF Hornchurch a few months before on aircrew selection, but informed that I had "long sight".

I then applied for Guided Missiles and was selected and posted to RAF Yatesbury in 1959. Bloodhound Mk 1.

My course was longer than scheduled as I had a nasty accident on a motorbike and admitted to RAF Hospital Wroughton. My injuries were not too serious, but they certainly set me back. I finally finished the course and was posted to RAF Woolfox Lodge in Rutland. Our Sqdn was 62 Sqdn and it was covering nearby RAF Cottesmore. We were classed as Fighter Command and were billeted at RAF North Luffenham.

We travelled each day from there on coach, and those days the A1 was 3 lanes, so it was very tense waiting to turn into Woolfox. Oakham in Rutland was my place of entertainment, and Friday night at the Victoria Hall was the in place.

I met my wife there and we were married at Greetham Church in 1962. Still together, 3 children, 3 grandchildren.Greetham was then my home and still is.

Alas again, the Bloodhound Mk1 was made redundant in 1964. RAF Woolfox closed. Posted to RAF Leconfield on Lightning's, 19 + 92 Sqdns. Noisy kites. Lived in Beverley till quarters came available. Wednesday afternoons were the highlight there, as it was classed as "sports afternoon". The majority of the Station always put "fishing" as their sport, and always fished at the 50 odd pubs in Beverley.

My stay at Leconfield can only be described as living in the 1960s.

What an era. However my proudest moment was in 1965 when I was on Sir Winston Churchill's Funeral route lining in London. We spent a whole week drilling at Woolwich with the Guards.

My high life at Leconfield ceased in May 4th 1966. I was posted to Bahrain, RAF MUHARRAQ, for ONE YEAR, unaccompanied! I missed the WORLD CUP VICTORY!!!

What a place that was. Working on Hunters, 108 Sqdn, beautiful aircraft. We often flew on detachments to RAF Sharjar in Beverleys, for air firing. I always used to be covered in hideous red blotches there. I realised in later years it was probably caused by bites by sand flies whilst collecting the brake chutes. The spots left my body as soon as we returned to RAF Muharraq.

The humidity in Bahrain was terrible, extremely difficult to tan. The main event each day was "trogging". One week clockwise, the next week anti-clockwise.

Letters from home kept me just about sane. The slogan was "D T D A G F". (Days To Do Are Getting Few) I left that place on May 4th 1967. Posted to RAF Cottesmore. Vulcans, such beautiful aircraft. I had the privilege to obtain 2nd place in the Bombing up Competition, thanks to my team. Ended up working in the Conventional Bomb Dump.

Time Out in March 1969.

Worked at a local engineering firm in Oakham for 18yrs. then made redundant. However with my Halton skills I had already envisaged this and had made plans to combat this. A week after collecting my redundancy and cheque, I was back in uniform. This time I was employed by HER MAJESTY's PRISON SERVICE. I did 17yrs. Retired in March 2004.

So there you have it. Still have fond memories of the 81st. ENTRY

As the 81st does of you Ned!